Morocco 2006 bike tour - África

MOROCCO, 'DIFFERENT AND CHARMING'

Morocco makes the biggest difference to Spain -in its widest sense- and it is one of the closest countries -just about 15 kilometres between Africa and Europe.

30 per cent of Moroccan people belong to bereber ethnic, the remaining 70 per cent are Arabian. The former lived on the boundaries of The Roman Empire, the latter invaded North Africa in the VIIth Century. Islam was an unifying element getting over ethnic differences. However, it is not the same story about languages. Arab spread widely. Amazigh -bereber language- was pushed out to Rif and Atlas mountains. The International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination has accussed Moroccan authorities of promoting discrimination against that ethnic. New Moroccan electronic identity cards have a special sign, the word z. This word is only for citizens have been born in Rif and Atlas zones and belong to bereber communities. You need a special white light in a dark room in order to visualize that sign. That sign is an irrefutable proof of the discrimination is suffering that group, making them 'second class citizens'.

98 per cent of the population is Muslim, the major religious authority in the country is King Mohammed VI. The Moroccan Constitution declares 'Islam is religion of State and it is guaranteed freedom of religion'. Nevertheless, preaching to Moroccans is illegal. So any action towards getting a Muslim away their religion could be condemmned to three to six months of imprisonment. In addition, penal code punishes Muslims and not-Muslims that do not observe Ramadan to one to six months of imprisonment.

Women´s situation in Morocco deserves a new paragraph. I am going to give you one significant example; two years ago was abolished the second paragraph of article 475 of the penal code, which allowed a rapist to evade jail if he married the victim.

To these cultural diferences, sometimes sour and wounding, there is a relievable contrast to landscape and rural areas. Mountains around Jaffar Cirque, bereber villages merged into the ocher-coloured land, Todra Gorge, Tinerhir and Draa palm groves, the stony desert of Jebel Sarhro, M´Hamid Dunes, Ksar d´Aït-Ben-HAddou, Kasbah Ellouze and Ounila Valley are enough causes to seduce and captivate anyone.

It is not necessary visa to access to Morocco. To stay less than three months it is sufficient to have a valid passport. Passport must be valid at least for six months for further stay.

First precaution you must have when you arrive at tha Alaouite country is with cutoms police. While they are embassing the entrance stamp in the passport they will ask for something. My recommendation is not to give the blackmail away at any moment. Be that as it may do not forget to be respectful and resolute.

Around Jaffar Cirque several times teenagers, almost children, threw us stones. There is no point trying to run away faster because they are incredibly quick and agile, so they are used to that environment. You must face them or ask for help to older people, who they have in high esteem.

Those same 'spoilt' children are demanding things such as sweets, pencils, money and receiving them. This vice is promoted by samaritan and reprobate behaviour of western tourism, travelling in comfortable SUV´s brimming with presents.

At Djema-el-Fna Square, in Marrakesh, you must be very careful about robberies.

In the following link: Ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation (Spain), you can find daily updated information about country travel advice.